North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited China again after six years and eight months. This trip drew particular attention as his debut on a multilateral diplomatic stage. Meanwhile, sources inside North Korea say Kim’s China visit marks the “prelude” to blood-chilling purges targeting judicial, security and safety agencies.
A Daily NK source inside North Korea said Sept. 5: “After Kim’s foreign visits, judicial, security and safety agencies are invariably summoned for intensive central party reviews. During his previous four China visits, these reviews were ruthless, and if unreported incidents or cover-ups were discovered, even trivial issues that would normally be overlooked resulted in merciless dismissals and punishments for relevant officials.”
Pattern of post-visit purges established
Kim Jong Un’s first overseas trip in March 2018, which served as the opening shot for restoring North Korea-China relations, set the tone. Upon returning from his first China visit, Kim immediately received central party review reports. Through these, he confirmed that the Ministry of State Security had independently covered up mass starvation and prisoner deaths at political prison camps while delaying reports. Enraged by this arbitrary handling of critical matters, Kim immediately dismissed four high-ranking security ministry officials.
That wasn’t the end. After his second China visit in May 2018, the Central Prosecutor’s Office came under scrutiny. While Kim’s second visit was packaged as a success, showcasing close North Korea-China communication, internal central party review reports revealed that the prosecutor’s office had handled cases of massive foreign currency embezzlement and bribery by trading company officials too leniently. Kim’s rebuke to “deal with them decisively” led to wholesale replacement of prosecutor’s office officials.
The purges continued after his third China visit in June 2018, immediately following the Singapore North Korea-U.S. summit. Kim’s third visit aimed to project a “normal state image” internationally and request China’s support, cooperation and assistance. However, upon Kim’s return, central party review reports revealed that the Central Court had covered up illegal wealth accumulation and personal corruption at subordinate foreign currency-earning mine units, leading to punishment of multiple related officials and another internal storm.
In January 2019, Kim’s fourth China visit occurred, this time targeting the Ministry of Social Security. Kim’s fourth visit was a strategic move to leverage China as backing amid stalled North Korea-U.S. denuclearization negotiations. While Kim was away from Pyongyang, security ministry officials gathered at a colleague’s home for a birthday drinking party, an incident directly noted in central party review reports. Viewed as “disloyalty” for failing to breathe in unison with the leader, security ministry officials faced mass purges and demotions.
Regarding this incident, bitter remarks circulated: “That official whose birthday happened to fall during the Marshal’s foreign visit was the source of trouble.” Officials were reminded once again that even celebrating birthdays could become a crime.
Trauma and anticipation
These four previous China visits established a clear pattern within North Korea: Kim Jong Un’s diplomatic visits to China are invariably followed by massive accountability measures, punishments and purges targeting judicial, security and safety agencies. For officials in these agencies, Kim’s China visits represent both a “prelude to purges” and trauma.
The source said: “Now is precisely when judicial, security and safety agency officials should be extremely tense.” While these events occurred over five years ago and may have faded from memory, this source noted they must remember that Kim’s China visits have always been accompanied by purges.
As in 2018 and 2019, Kim Jong Un’s China visits have always cast the shadow of purge fears behind the glittering diplomatic facade. Will that fear repeat after Kim’s fifth China visit, which showcased North Korea-China-Russia cooperation and solidarity? Time will reveal the answer.
